Inside San Francisco (Feb 12th, 2018)

Tomorrow's forecast will be sunny skies with a high/low of 62/45 Fahrenheit. On Wednesday, expect partly cloudy skies with a high/low of 57/45 Fahrenheit.

Lake Tahoe-based Olympic snowboarder Jamie Anderson won a gold medal today. Anderson came in first in the Snowboard Ladies' Slopestyle Final at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games but many weren't sure the competition should have gone on at all. Originally scheduled for Sunday, the slopestyle competition - as well as several other events - were canceled due to poor conditions. While the cold weather and wind were no better today, officials decided to move ahead with the games, in a move some claim was made in favor of television schedules as opposed to athlete safety. 25 riders each took two trips down the course for a total of 50 runs. Of those 50, 41 runs ended with a rider on her backside. "I think today made us look way worse than we are," said Austrian snowboarder Anna Gasser. - SFGATE

The proposed San Francisco Police Department budget includes $3.5 million to arm officers with Tasers. The Police Commission voted in favor of providing officers with stun guns (as well as additional training) at the end of 2018, which is when the SFPD's use-of-force policy will have been in place for two years. However, the Commission has yet to approve a policy of when officers will be allowed to deploy Tasers. Following a number of fatal police shootings in San Francisco, the U.S. Department of Justice provided the department with a list of recommendations - including "strong" encouragement to implement the use of Tasers. San Francisco and Detroit are the only two cities with populations of more than 500,000 that do not use stun guns. Opponents of arming police with stun guns say that the devices have a history of causing severe injury or death, and might escalate a situation that could be defused. SFPD's total budget of $623 million will go to Mayor Mark Farrell later this month, who will present it to the Board of Supervisors in June for a July vote. - SFEXAMINER

A dog was tossed to his death from the seventh story of the Stockton Sutter garage. A dashboard camera captured a suspect breaking into a car at the popular Union Square parking garage. The suspect, later identified as 35-year-old San Franciscan Wakeen Best, took a 4-year-old chihuahua mix named Dunky from the car and threw him over the railing of the garage. Police recognized Best from the video footage as he was already known to authorities on previous felony charges of burglary, animal cruelty, grand theft, possession of stolen property, carrying a concealed weapon, vandalism, and a probation violation. Best was picked up by police near Polk and Bush streets and he was booked on numerous charges. Car break-ins have been described as an "epidemic" in San Francisco. - SFWEEKLY

A San Francisco Recology worker discovered a grenade in a routine trash pickup. The incident occurred on Friday morning in Cole Valley around 17th and Shrader streets. The Recology employee notified authorities who investigated the scene and advised residents to stay indoors and away from windows. Police and fire officials cleared the scene and are investigating the incident. “I’ve been here 25 years, and this is the second time I’ve heard that word, grenade,” said Recology spokesperson Robert Reed. - HOODLINE

A mouse tried to catch a ride with an Alameda Sheriff's Deputy. Deputy Brandon Dennington captured a photo of a live (and very bold) mouse on the windshield of his parked car. "We are happy to report the little mouse is safely on the ground and looking for a new ride," tweeted the Alameda County Sheriff's Department. - ABC7

COMMUNITY NEWS: OAKLAND

A man died this morning when a fire broke out in a West Oakland homeless encampment that's home to around 50 people. Firefighters arrived at the fire underway beneath the freeway overpass at Sycamore Street and Northgate Avenue. There, they found a makeshift wooden shed fully engulfed in flames. Once they were able to extinguish the blaze, crews found the body of a man inside. The victim has yet to be identified and no other injuries were reported.

Former Oakland As pitcher Esteban Loaiza was arrested in San Diego County with 44 pounds of cocaine and marijuana on Friday. Loaiza, who played for the As in 2006 and 2007, won 126 games in his career, the second most wins ever for a Mexican-born pitcher. (Fernando Valenzuela is first.) However, Loaiza's time with the As was plagued by injuries and he was eventually picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is currently being held at the South Bay Detention Center on $200,000 bail and has been charged with possession and two counts of transporting and possessing narcotics to sell. Loaiza's first court appearance is on Wednesday.

Take a peek inside Oakland’s Copper Spoon. Housed in the former Art’s Crab Shak on Broadway, Copper Spoon is owned by Vita Simone Strauss and Carmen Anderson and helmed by chef Andre Hall, who's created an eclectic menu of comfort food. Offerings include the cleverly-named Beets by Dre, as well as Sassy’s Lamb Merguez Burger and a ceviche menu. Copper Spoon, which includes a full bar and cocktail program, is now open for business.

WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK

Saints come marching in: Party at 21 different Mission District locations tomorrow night at the 40th Anniversary Carnaval San Francisco Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Party. Enjoy live samba drummers, dancers winding their way through the party, and lively music from salsa and soca to cumbia and rumba between 6pm and 10pm PT. Attendees are encouraged to don Mardi Gras costumes. Find a comprehensive map of the lively libation locations right here (but aim for Mission between 19th and 24th Streets).

Bold ballet: New York City Ballet alums Benjamin Millepied and Justin Peck head west, bringing their own stamps on The Chairman Dances and Copeland's Rodeo to the San Francisco Ballet. "Bright Fast Cool Blue" also includes Balanchine’s moonlit Serenade by Tchaikovsky. Catch this eclectic show tomorrow and Wednesday at 7:30pm PT, Friday at 8pm PT and Sunday at 2pm PT. "Bright Fast Cool Blue" also runs next week on Thursday and Saturday, and tickets start at $29.

Hip hop meets folk: Emerging Nashville trio Judah & the Lion headline the Fillmore tonight starting at 8pm PT. Tickets to this show, which'll feature a musical groove unlike any other, start at $40. The Fillmore is, of course, one of the Bay Area's most iconic live music venues and a spectacular place to take in a new band.

Lake Tahoe-based Olympic snowboarder Jamie Anderson won a gold medal today. Anderson came in first in the Snowboard Ladies' Slopestyle Final at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games but many weren't sure the competition should have gone on at all. Originally scheduled for Sunday, the slopestyle competition - as well as several other events - were canceled due to poor conditions. While the cold weather and wind were no better today, officials decided to move ahead with the games, in a move some claim was made in favor of television schedules as opposed to athlete safety. 25 riders each took two trips down the course for a total of 50 runs. Of those 50, 41 runs ended with a rider on her backside. "I think today made us look way worse than we are," said Austrian snowboarder Anna Gasser. - SFGATE